Railway-car truck



N0. 609,780. PafentedAug. 30, |898. G. J. CAPEWELL.

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK.

3 Sheets-S heet I.

911; /1 '//-f. L I f Fil;

vNo. 609,780. Patented Aug. 30, |898.

G. J. CAPEWELL- RAILWAY CAR TRUCK.

(Application led Dec. 22, 1897.)

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

No. 609,780. Patented Aug. 30, |898.

G. J. UAH-:WELL

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK.

\ (Apphation filed Dec.. 22, 1897.) No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

NTTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

GEORGE J. CAPEVVELL, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

RAILWAY-CAR TRUCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 609,780, dated August30, 1898.

Application nea December 22,1897. serai No. 662,985. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. CAPEWELL,

a citizen of the United States,residin gat Hartford, in the county ofHartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Railway-CarTrucks, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to those trucks for railway-cars which areconstructed to travel on the ordinary standard-gagel track and also on anarrow-gage or central-rail track.

The objectof this invention is to provide a comparatively simple,inexpensive, and durable truck which will run smoothly, noiselessly, andrapidly without danger of becoming derailed either on anordinarystandardgage track or on a narrow-gage or central-rail track andwhich will run from one track to the other without jar and withoutchecking the speed of the truck.

The embodiment of theinvention illustrated by the drawings has ordinaryflanged wheels arranged at the usual distances apart for travcling onthe common two-rail track, flat-tread wheels arranged on the same axlesas the flanged wheels, but nearer the center, so that they will run on acentral-rail track, yokes borne by the wheels and supporting thetruckirame, a motor, with driving connections between the motor and thedriving-wheels, and retaining-wheels arranged to run on both sides ofthe center rail to keep the truck in position when traveling on thecentral-rail track, as more particularly hereinafter described, andpointed out in the claims. l

Of the views, Figure l showsa portion of a railway-car provided with theimproved truck and illustrates one of the objects of constructing atruck that can run on either an ordinary two-rail track or acentral-rail track. Fig. 2 is a larger view of one end ot' the car,vshowing the truck in side elevation. Fig. 3 shows a plan of the truck,the top of the frame being removed to better expose the mechanism. Fig.4 is a side elevation of the same with the side 4of the frame brokenaway to expose the mechanism. Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on theplane indicated by the line XX of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail plan of oneof the wheel-yokes. Fig.7 is a detail view illustrating thecross-sectional shape of the central track provided for this truck andshowing the positions of the retaining-wheels, and Fig. 8 is a similarview showing retaining-wheelsof different form.

The flanged Wheels 1 are formed in any common manner and are arrangedthe usual distances apart for running on an ordinary tworail track. Thefiat-tread wheels 2 are arranged. near the center, so as to run on theflat faces of the central rail. The central rail shown hasoutwardly-extendingwebs 3,an upwardly-extending web 4, and adownwardlyextending web 5. The wheels 1 and 2 may be connected in pairsby hubs G, between which common form of roller or other antifrictionbearings.

The axles upon which the wheels turn are connected with and supportyokes S. Each of the yokes shown is formed of thin metal, with two sides81 and an end 82, that ties the sides together, and each yoke at one endsupports a bar 9, that extends transversely of the truck, and at theother end supports cushioning-springs 10. The sides of the yokes are soformed that the portions that are joined by the pivot-bars are higherthan the end portions, and the sides are provided with hubs 83 to insuresufficient strength for the connection of the axles and bars.

The truck-frame is supported by the bars 9, that join the higher endsofthe yokes,'and by springs `10 at the lower ends of theyokes. Thetruck-frame illustrated in the views is a rectangular oblong frameVformed of wide vertically-arranged sheet-metal Vside plates 11, thatextend from end to end, and of vertically-arranged sheet-metal endplates 111, that are not quite'as wide as the side plates. vThe sideplates are shown as stiiifened by securing along their inner faces, nearthe upper edges, channel-beams 25, and the end plates are stiiened bysimilarly arranged channel-beams26. Extendinglongitudinally of thetruck-frame, each side of the middle,

with a space between them from end to end, are tie-beams 1111. These`are preferably I- beams, and at-one end they are secured to thechannel-beams 25, and atthe otherends they are secured to the end plates8, some distance below the upper edge. These tie-beams extend along inthe plane of the upper edge of the frame for nearly their entire length,

and their axles 7 there may be arranged any IOO tral rail.

but near one end incline downwardly, so as to pass under the motor.Extending transversely of the frame, each side of the middle, from eachof the tie-beams to the channelbeams that stiften the side plates of thetruckframe, are secured brace-beams 11111. The inside ends of thesecross-braces, which are I-beams, are secured to the longitudinaltiebeams, while the outer ends are secured to the channel-beams at theupper edge of the truck-frame side plates. These braces are securedtogether by bolts or rivets in the manner usual with structural work ofthis nature, and over the top there is placed a coverplate 27.

The bars 9 are connected with the side wallplates of the frame and thesprings with transverse tie-beams. The weight of the truckframe or thecar built upon the truck-frame tends to force the bars 9 downwardly, andthis is resisted by the wheels upon the track and the springs 10 untilan equilibrium is established by the compressional resistance of thesprings. VVhen there is any roughness or unevenness in the track, nomotion or jar is transmitted to the truck-frame and car, as the yokescan oscillate independently on the `bars 9 and allow the wheels toseparately move up and down and conform to the contour of the track, thesprings cushioning and absorbing all jar and vibration.

Near one end of the truck, supported by one of the bars 9, are arms 12,that support a shaft 13, upon which is mounted the armature of anelectric motor ll. Projecting from the walls of the motor case are lugs15.A Through these lugs extend rods 1G, that are connected with theframe and that carry springs 17. As the arms 12 are free to rock on thebar 9, the motor is free to oscillate, except as controlled by thesesprings 17, which cushion any movement of the motor and absorb all jarand vibration.

Mounted on the armature-shaft are pinions 18, and these mesh with gears19, that are borne by the bar 9 and that mesh with gears 20, connectedwith the hub 6 of the flanged and flat-tread wheels 1 and 2, that areemployed as drivers.

Held by vertically-extending webs 21, secured to the truck-frame, arevertically-arranged bearings 211, of any convenient construction. Thesebearings support four pairs of wheels 22, that are adapted toruniagainst the side faces of the upwardly-extending web 4 ofthe centralrail, or strips 23, secured thereto, when the fiat-tread wheels aretraveling on the outwardly-extending webs 3 of the cen- These wheelswill retain the flattread wheels in place and prevent the truck fromtipping off. They may be provided with flanges 24, that will engage theedgesof the strips 23 to prevent the truck from jumping up and o fromthe central rail, if such is deemed necessary; but this is notessential, for it is thought that under no circumstances could the truckbecome raised suiiiciently to overcome the central upwardlyprojectingweb.

The flanged wheels 1 as arranged permit this truck to travel upon anordinary standardgage two rail track, to run over the switches in commonuse, and to take the ordinary turnouts, so that a car provided withthese trucks can run on the railways in existence at the present time.wheels 2 allow these trucks to travel upon a Vcentral-rail track, whichmay be supported lhaving the two forms of wheels enables the building ofelevated roads for urban transportation upon which considerable speedcan be made safely Where previously it has been impossible in view ofthe narrowness of streets and the congested condition of business, forthe central-track structure will not occupy the amount of space, willnot cut olf the amount of light, and will not cost as much to rear asthe ordinary elevated structure for two-rail tracks. It also enables thebuilding of a railway for suburban transportation where rapid transit isdesired and it is necessary to eliminate grade-crossings and rear acheap structure which will be artistic and safe for the passengers, forpedestrians, and for domestic animals. In rural localities, acrossfarms, over streams and swamps, and across prairies and deserts a cheapstructure can be reared above the reach of animals and the level offloods, snow, and sand-drifts, having the central-rail track,upon whichhigh speed can be safely made. Where the circumstances justify, theordinary two rail track may be employed.

These trucks run very smoothly, for each Wheel has an independentmovement and the truck-frame is supported upon them evenly. There is nojar or vibration transmitted to the car, and the motor ridescomparatively free from shake.

The trucks will readily pass from one track to the other, and thus theordinary tracks may be used where they conveniently can, andconnections, extensions, or additions can be built employing the centralrail mentioned in this case.

I claim as my invention- 1. A railway-car truck having wheels adapted totravel on a standard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on acentral-rail track, a truck-frame supported by the wheels,andside-bearing retaining-Wheels supported by the truck-frame,substantially as specified.

The flat tread IOO IIO

2. A railway-car truck having Wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a centralrailtrack, yokes supported by said wheels, and a truck-frame supported bythe yokes, substantially as specified.

3. A railway-car truck having wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a central railtrack,yokes supported by said wheels,a truckframe supported by theyokes, and retainingwheels for keeping the central-track wheels inposition, substantially as specified.

4. A railway-car truck having wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a centralrailtrack,yokes supported by said wheels,a truckframe supported by theyokes, and retainingwheels supported by the truck-frame, substantiallyas specified.

5. A railway-car truck having Wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a central railtrack, with connections between the side and central wheels, yokessupported by both side and central Wheels, and a truck-frame supportedby the yokes, substantially as specified.

G. Arailway-car truckhavin g wheels adapted to travel on a standard-gagetwo-rail track, Wheels adapted to travel on a centralrail track, yokes,each of which is supported by one outside and one central wheel, and atruck-frame supported by the yokes, substantially as specified.

7. A railway-car truck having Wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a central railtrack, yokes supported by said wheels, a

truck-frame supported by said yokes, a inotor borne by the truck-traine,and connections between the motor and the drivingwheels, substantiallyas specied.

8. A railway-car truck having Wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a central-railtrack, yokes supported by said wheels, bars and springs supported bysaid yokes, a truckfraine supported by said bars and springs, a motorsupported by one of said bars, and connections between the motor and thedrivingwheels, substantially as specified.

9. A railwaybar truck having wheels adapted to travel on a standard-gagetwo-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a central-rail track, yokessupported by said wheels, bars and sprin gs supported by said yokes, atruckfraine supported by said bars and springs, a motor supported by oneof said bars and by springs, connections between the motor and thedriving-wheels, and retaining-wheels supported by the truck-traine,substantially as specified.

10. A railway car truck having wheels adapted to travel on astandard-gage two-rail track, wheels adapted to travel on a centralrailtrack, yokes supported by the wheels which 'are being made use of, and atruckframe pivot-ally connected with the outer ends of the yokes andconnected by springs with the inner ends of the yokes, substantially asspecied.

GEORGE J. oArEwELL.

Witnesses:

HARRY R. WILLIAMS, E. J. HYDE.

